On August 31, 1942 just four days after the arrival of the first evacuees a Community Council was selected to serve as a temporary liaison unit between the evacuees and the project director (Holsinger 1960: 51). The council with the approval of the project officials proposed a democratic government for the camp. The central executive and legislative body of the center was to be a Community Council composed of one representative from each of the twenty-nine blocks. Members were to be elected by popular vote from the block where they lived by all who were eighteen years of age. "The WRA barred the Issei from holding elected office within camps and put greater authority in the hands of the Nisei, who were eligible to become block leaders and council members" (Chang 1996: 51). Five of the twenty-nine elected representatives were to be chosen to be members of the council's executive committee. This council was responsible for the ordinances, regulations, and laws governing the center. Furthermore, a judicial commission was comprised of eight members who were appointed by the council. This commission was responsible for hearing and trying cases involving the violation of local regulations. In addition to the judicial commission an arbitration commission was formed of 15 members. This commission was responsible for arbitrating civil disputes within the center. The Community Council officially began to function on November 4, 1942 and by December 30 their charter for self-government was approved by the main WRA office in Washington, D.C.

Besides the Community Council, block managers were nominated by the residents and appointed by the project director. The block manager was responsible for "handling the requests on housing, heating and household supplies, assisting the family in case of death in making all needed arrangements, relaying announcements and instructions from administrative services, and also to advise the personnel director on employment" (War Relocation Authority 1944: 10). These managers further kept population and occupational records as well as vital statistics. The block managers developed by-laws which they followed.

Administration

 

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